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First Annual Report 

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State Veterinarian, 





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The advancement of civilization depends upon a prosperous 

Agriculture. 

Agriculture can only prosper when supported by a thriving, 
profitable animal industry. 

More cattle, hogs and sheep means more cotton, corn, grain 
and forage upon less acres. 



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FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 

OF THE 

STATE VETERINARIAN 

Hon. Thos. G. Hudson, Commissioner of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga. 

Dear Sir: — Obedient to legislative mandate I submit herewith 
my first annual report. The act creating this office makes it the 
duty of the State Veterinarian to "investigate and take proper 
measure for the control of contagious and infectious diseases among 
the domestic animals within the State, under such rules and regula- 
tions as may be promulgated by him and approved by the Commis- 
sioner of Agriculture ; to assume charge of the work of tick eradica- 
tion, and to devote his entire time to the health and improvement of 
the Live Stock industry of the State; and he shall report upon his 
work annually, etc." 

Prior to the creation of this office (under the provisions of an 
Act of the Laws of 1906) I had the honor to be connected with your 
Department in the capacity of Chief Consulting Veterinarian ; dur- 
ing which time I had the opportunity to acquire a fair acquaintance 
with the conditions and some of the infectious diseases that are met 
in the State of Georgia. This work, under the old law, was, of 
course, preliminary and very incomplete. Each investigation con- 
sisted of a clinical opinion and advice for the disposition of the 
case; in case of contagious diseases the attending Veterinarian was 
not even empowered to declare and enforce quarantine restrictions. 

The law creating the office of State Veterinarian had been pre- 
ceeded by an act conferring upon the Commissioner of Agriculture 
the powers of Live Stock Sanitary control, but as no provisions were 
made for the administrative officer whose duty it would be to carry 
the law into effect little progress was made; therefore, upon my ap- 
pointment I found the work before me unorganized. It is true, 
some systematic work had been conducted along the line of tick- 
eradication under the supervision of Mr. R. F. Wright, Assistant 
Commissioner and, bearing in mind that this work was in the main 
preliminary, the results were all that could have been expected. 
With this one exception the field was unexplored, the structure of 

3 



Live Stock Sanitary Control remained to be organized from the 
foundation. 

After some deliberation, yet without delay, a set of rules and 
regulations were drafted and their practicability given a trial in 
actual application under Georgia conditions before they were submit- 
ted to the printer. (See Bulletin No. 5, Series A.) 

These rules are but a plain preamble of the fundamental re- 
quirements in the suppression of infectious and contagious diseases, 
these basic principles have been found to be absolutely essential to 
success, in actual practice, wherever communicable disease have been 
suppressed by man's effort. Faithfully adhered to they will be found 
sufficient for our present need, tho special occasions will no doubt 
arise that demand more drastic rules/ 

In my review of the infectious, contagious and communicable 
diseases I have divided them into three groups: 

First: — Infectious diseases affecting animals which are also 
transmissible to man. 

Second: — Infectious diseases which affect animals specifically. 

Third: — Parasitic infections of animals. 

To avoid bulkiness this review must needs be brief. 

In the first group we will consider: Tuberculosis, Rabies, 
Glanders, Anthrax. 

In the second group we will consider: Tick Fever, Hog Chol- 
era, Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Emphysematous Anthrax, Epizootic 
Spinal Meningitis, Epizootic Cerebro Spinal Meningitis. 

In the third group we will consider: Parasitic infestations 
and intoxications. 

TUBERCULOSIS. 

Notwithstanding the fact that great publicity has been given to 
a campaign of suppression against this dread disease, statistics prove 
a steady increase in its distribution. As yet the infection of all the 
cattle within the State will hardly prove more than 7 per cent. ; the 
infection being principally among the dairy herds into which the 
disease has been introduced by cattle from other states. A careful 
supervision of all cattle imported for dairy and breeding purpose 
will be of material benefit in preventing the increase and spread of 
the infection ; but, if we expect to control the spread from infected 
herds within the State, we must adopt most stringent means to lo- 



cate the diseased herds within our commonwealth and then restrict 
the traffic in reacting animals. It would be good business policy to 
brand or otherwise mark all reactors in order that any purchaser 
may be aware that the animal so marked, or branded, is tuberculous. 

To encourage breeders and dairymen to have and keep their 
herds free of tuberculosis it would, perhaps, be good policy to issue 
to those who have and maintain herds free of tuberculosis — as prov- 
en by an official tuberculin test — a " State Certificate" setting forth 
such fact. Such certificate to make it obligatory upon the owner 
not to introduce cattle into this herd unless they have been regularly 
tested with tuberculin ; and to have the entire herd retested once a 
year in order to determine that tuberculosis is not present. 

In this work of eradicating tuberculosis all cities which have a 
regular Health Department should take an active part. Their co- 
operation is absolutely essential to successful supervision. 

Without any special funds available for the suppression and 
eradication of tuberculosis among cattle I have only been able to 
make a few investigations. These were confined to some of the 
larger dairy herds and in each instance we found the herd infected. 

The herd of M. in Putnam county showed, three reacters 

out of 57 tested. The herd of Z. near Atlanta showed 24 re- 
acters out of 42 tested, — 19 out of 24 milk cows proved tuberculous, 
two of these reacters — apparently in good health — proved tuberculous 
upon pose mortem thus vindicating the reliability of the test. The 

herd D. of Putnam county responded with 10 reacters out of a 

herd of 55 head. 

A few years ago Prof. C. L. Willoughby conducted several tests 
for the Georgia Experiment Station and after a number of tests in 
different parts of the State gave it as his opinion that the dairy herds 
of the State were infected about 20 per cent ; this I think is a fair es- 
timate. Tuberculous infection among range cattle is rather rare and 
I feel therefore safe in my opinion that not over 7 per cent, of all 
the cattle in the State are affected with tuberculosis. 

In 1909 the American Veterinary Medical Association appoint 
ed an International Commission to study methods of control of bo 
vine tuberculo-is. The results of their investigation has been pub- 
lished in pamphlet form and I take the liberty to reproduce their 
final conclusion in full. 



THE CONTROL OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. 

(Report of the International Commission of the American Veteri- 
nary Medical Association.) 

INTRODUCTION. 

The greatest problem confronting the live-stock industry is the 
increasing prevalence of tuberculosis among cattle and hogs and the 
necessity of adopting measures for suppressing and controlling this 
disease. A careful estimate made by the writer for the International 
Congress on Tuberculosis in 1908 showed that tuberculosis of animals 
exacts a toll of over $23,000,000 annually. Of even greater moment 
than this tremendous economic loss is the sacrifice of human life and 
the impairment of human health from tuberculosis, almost univer- 
sally regarded by scientific investigators to be due in some consid- 
erable degree to the existence of tuberculosis in animals from which 
milk and other foods are derived. 

No one who is informed on the subject can fail to realize that 
something should be done to check the rapid spread of tuberculosis 
among cattle and hogs and to control and eventually to eradicate the 
disease. As this disease in hogs is nearly always contracted from tu- 
berculous cattle, it is believed that if bovine tuberculosis were sup- 
pressed swine tuberculosis would soon disappear ; hence our main at- 
tack must be directed against the disease in cattle. Efforts have been 
made for some years to combat bovine tuberculosis, and while some 
headway has been made in some sections and localities, in general the 
disease has continued to spread, and on the whole it appears that the 
progress of the disease has been more rapid than the progress of the 
work against it. The time has come when something should be done 
in a more definite, systematic, and practical way and on a larger scale. 
However difficult may be the task of controlling and eradicating 
tuberculosis, the problem is constantly becoming more difficult as the 
infection becomes more widespread. It is much easier to deal now 
with a disease affecting on the whole about 5 per cent of our cattle 
than it will be to combat it later if we permit it to spread until it 
affects 40 or 50 per cent, as is the case in some parts of Europe. 

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the American Veteri- 
nary Medical Association at its annual meeting at Chicago in Septem- 
ber, 1909, created an international commission to study methods of 

6 



control of bovine tuberculosis, with instructions to submit a report at 
the next annual meeting. The commission as first appointed was as 
follows: Dr. J. G. Rutherford, Hon. W. C. Edwards, Mr. J. W. 
Flavelle, Hon. W. D. Hoard, Dr. C. A. Hodgetts, Dr. John R. 
Mohler, Dr. V. A. Moore, Dr. Leonard Pearson, Dr. M. H. Reynolds, 
Dr. E. C. Schroeder, Mr. Louis F. Swift, and Dr. Frederick Tor- 
rance. The commission first met at Buffalo, N. Y., December 13 
and 14, 1909, and organized by electing Dr. Rutherford as chairman 
and Dr. Reynolds as secretary. Owing to the death of Dr. Pearson 
and the inability of Mr. Swift to serve, the writer, as president of 
the association, appointed in their places, respectively, Dr. M. P. 
Ravenal and Dr. T. W. Tomlinson. Later, at the request of the 
commission, he also appointed Mr. J. J. Ferguson as a representa- 
tive of the United States packing industry and Dr. J. N. Hurty as a 
representative of the medical health officers of the United States. 

The commission comprised in its membership not only veteri- 
narians, but physicians and representatives of the stock-raising, meat- 
packing, and dairy interests — scientists, professional men, and prac- 
tical men of affairs — five from Canada and nine from the United 
States. The body was thus exceedingly well qualified to consider the 
subject in a broad way and from the various points of view. 

After four meetings of the commission and several conferences of 
subcommittees, and as a result of thorough consideration of the sub- 
ject by the members, the commission presented its report at the an- 
nual meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association at 
San Francisco in September, 1910. This report, which appears in 
the following pages, recommends and outlines definite plans and 
policies for the control of bovine tuberculosis. Besides stating im- 
portant facts about the disease, it points out the necessity for edu- 
cation and legislation, describes methods for handling cattle by 
breeders and dairymen, and proposes administrative measures to be 
followed by public officers. It is believed that these recommendations 
are practical, and that they point the way to more effective warfare 
against this great common plague of animals and man. 

A. D. Melvin, 

President American Veterinary Medical Association, 1909-10. 



7 



REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE 
CONTROL OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. 

To the President of the American Veterinary Medical Association: 

Owing to the great economic and sanitary significance of animal 
tuberculosis to the live-stock indutry of America and the many and 
varied factors which must of necessity be accounted with in formu- 
lating successful measures for its eradication, the American Veter- 
inary Medical Association, at its meeting in Chicago in September, 
1909, appointed the International Commission on the Control of 
Bovine Tuberculosis. The commission was instructed to study the 
problem of tuberculosis among cattle and to report at the next meet- 
ing of the association upon reasonable and economically practicable 
methods or systems to be recommended to both officials and live-stock 
owners for eradicating this great scourge of domesticated animals. 

It is recognized that tuberculosis is widely prevalent among cattle* 
and other animals, and that the frequency with which this great evil 
occurs is increasing rather than declining. As tuberculosis is one 
of the strictly preventable infections, there is good ground for the 
belief that through the formulation and enforcement of proper regu- 
lations the disease may eventually be entirely suppressed. 

The commission has held four meetings, as follows : Buffalo, N. 
Y., December 13 and 14, 1909 ; Detroit, Mich., March 1 and 2, 1910; 
Ottawa, Canada, May 19, 20, and 21, 1910; Madison, Wis., June 27 
and 28, 1910 ; all of which were well attended, very few of the mem- 
bers having on any occasion been absent. The commission begs to- 
present as a result of its labors the following report, which, although 
brief, will on examination be found to comprise the principal points 
essential to the promulgation of a comprehensive and practical policy, 
such as may reasonably be adopted by any governmental body inter- 
ested in the control of bovine tuberculosis. 

It is quite unnecessary, in view of the extensive knowledge 
already possessed by all who are familiar with the efforts which have 
hitherto been made to secure control of bovine tuberculosis, to dwell 
at any length upon the importance of the subject or upon the condi- 
tions which led to the formation of the commission. 

In view of the personnel of the commission as selected by the- 
American Veterinary Medical Association, and of the fact that so^ 
much information on the subject has been made available through the* 

8 



work of similar bodies in other countries and the researches of scien- 
tific and practical men in America and elsewhere, the commission has 
not deemed it necessary to take any evidence either from expert wit- 
nesses or others. 

The members fully understood that the purpose which their ap- 
pointment was intended to serve was less the acquisition of new 
knowledge regarding bovine tuberculosis than the careful study of 
the knowledge already available and of the thoughts and opinions 
of those most entitled to speak with authority on the subject. 

The conclusions reached in this report are therefore simply the 
outcome of an earnest and thoughtful consideration of the various 
modern aspects and phases of the problem, with the object of crystal- 
lizing public opinion and so clearing the way for legislative action. 
They realized also that they could deal with fundamental principles 
only, and that the details of any policy which they might outline 
must in each case be worked out by the duly authorized and re- 
sponsible representatives of the community immediately concerned. 
They nevertheless deemed it essential to study closely the history of 
the various efforts hitherto made by such countries throughout the 
world as have attempted to legislate on the subject. This naturally 
led to the gradual elimination of all methods other than such as 
might reasonably be adopted by any community desiring, in the full 
light of present-day knowledge, to undertake the control of bovine 
tuberculosis. 

It was felt, in view of the prevalence of the disease, especially in 
some localities and among certain classes of cattle, the difficulty of 
providing a sufficient number of trained officials, and the large eco- 
nomic questions involved, to say nothing of the enormous expendi- 
ture, that it would be unwise, for the present at least, to discuss 
seriously a policy of universal compulsory testing and slaughter. 
Such a policy might perhaps be adopted with advantage by a small 
community, or one in which the disease existed to a very limited ex- 
tent; but speaking generally, especially in view of past experiences 
in this line, it was thought better to omit it entirely from the recom- 
mendations of the commission. 

All other methods of dealing with bovine tuberculosis which have 
been recommended or tried in various communities were thoroughly 
discussed, with the object of discarding weak points and adopting 
such features as might be deemed worthy of a place in the official 
findings of the commission. Every phase of the subject was in this 

9 



way fully and freely considered, it being thought best to cover the 
whole ground as completely as possible before coming to a definite 
decision on any one point. In order to minimize still further the 
risk of omitting from the deliberations of the commission any phase 
of the question, four committees were appointed at the first meeting 
to deal respectively with — 

1. Education and legislation. 

2. Location of tuberculosis. 

3. Dissemination. 

4. Disposition of tuberculosis animals. 

The appointment of these committees proved to be of the greatest 
possible value in concentrating the energies of the various members 
on those branches on the subject with which they were most familiar, 
and their reports presented at subsequent meetings enabled the com- 
mission to reach satisfactory conclusions much more rapidly than 
would otherwise have been the case. As a means of furnishing infor- 
mation as to the reasons for these conclusions and the manner in 
which they were reached, the commission would recommend that the 
reports of the committees should be published as an appendix to this 
report. 

The commission, recognizing after careful study that the tuber- 
culin test is the fundamental factor in any policy having for its ob- 
ject the control of bovine tuberculosis, decided that a pronouncement 
to that effect should properly occupy a foremost place. 

Based on the information contained in the reports of its com- 
mittees and on such other information as was brought out in the 
general discussions of the commission, the following resolutions were 
adopted for presentation to the American Veterinary Medical Asso- 
ciation : 

RESOLUTION 1.— DISSEMINATION. 

As a general policy to be observed, all contact between tubercu- 
lous and healthy cattle and between healthy cattle and stables, cars, 
etc., which may contain living tubercle bacilli should be prevented. 
To accomplish this the following specific recommendations are made : 

1. There should be no sale or exchange of animals affected with 
tuberculosis except for immediate slaughter or for breeding purposes 
under official supervision. 

2. That the management of live-stock shows should give prefer- 

10 



ence to cattle known to be free from tuberculosis, either by providing 
special classes for such cattle or in some other practical way, and 
should also take every precaution to prevent contact between such 
animals and those not known to be free from disease. 

3. All live-stock shippers should take every precaution to see that 
cars furnished are thoroughly cleansed and disinfected before use. 

RESOLUTION 2.— TUBERCULIN TEST. 

1. That tuberculin, properly used, is an accurate and reliable 
diagnostic agent for the detection of active tuberculosis. 

2. That tuberculin may not produce a reaction under the fol- 
lowing conditions : 

(a) When the disease is in a period of incubation. 

(b) When the progress of the disease is arrested. 

(c) When the disease is extensively generalized. 

The last condition is relatively rare and may usually be detected 
by physical examination. 

3. On account of the period of incubation and the fact that ar- 
rested cases may sooner or later become active, all exposed animals 
should be retested at intervals of six months to one year. 

4. That the tuberculin test should not be applied to any animal 
having a temperature higher than normal. 

5. That any animal having given one distinct reaction to tuber- 
culin should thereafter be regarded as tuberculous. 

6. That the subcutaneous injection of tuberculin is the only 
method of using tuberculin for the detection of tuberculosis in cattle 
which can be recommended at the present time. 

7. That tuberculin has no injurious effect on healthy cattle. 

RESOLUTION 3.— EVIDENCE FROM TUBERCULIN TEST. 

That a positive reaction to tuberculin in any properly conducted 
test, official or otherwise, in any animal in any herd shall be consid- 
ered evidence sufficient upon Avhich to declare the herd to be infected. 

RESOLUTION 4.— COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION. 

That this commission recommends the passage of legislation pro- 
viding for the compulsory notification by owners and by veterinarians 

11 



of the existence of tuberculosis in a herd, whether such existence be 
made known by detection of clinical cases or by tuberculin test. 

RESOLUTION 5.— LOCATION THROUGH SLAUGHTER. 

This commission recognizes that the discovery of tuberculosis in 
animals slaughtered for food purposes furnishes one of the best pos- 
sible means of locating the disease on the farm, and therefore rec- 
ommends the adoption of some system of marking, for purposes of 
identification, all cattle 3 years old and over, shipped for slaughter. 

As tuberculosis of hogs is almost invariably due to bovine infec- 
tion, recommendation should also be made to apply to hogs of any 
age shipped for slaughter. 

It is further recommended that the discovery of tuberculosis in 
animals coming under Government inspection should be used, when- 
ever identification is possible, as a means of locating infected herds 
and premises. All such cases should be reported to the proper author- 
ities for control action. 

RESOLUTION 6.— DISPOSITION OF TUBERCULOUS 

ANIMALS. 

THE COMMISSION PLAN. 

1. As a general policy in the eradication of tuberculosis the sepa- 
ration of healthy and diseased animals and the construction of a 
healthy herd are recommended. In order to accomplish this the fol- 
lowing recommendations are made : 

(1) If the herd is found to be extensively infected, as shown by 
the tuberculin test or clinical examination, even the apparent healthy 
animals in it should be regarded with suspicion until they have been 
separated from the reacting animals for at least three months. If 
after the expiration of this time they do not react to the tuberculin 
•test, they may be considered healthy and dealt with accordingly. 

It is recommended that a herd extensively infected should not be 
treated by the method of general separation, but that the construction 
of a new herd from the offspring only is advisable. 

(2) If the herd is found by either or both of the above methods 
to contain a relatively small proportion of diseased animals, separa- 
tion of the diseased animals from the healthy animals and the con- 

12 



struction of a sound herd from the healthy animals and the offspring 
of both are advocated. 

As a working basis in carrying out these principles, we advise: 

(a) That herds containing 50 per cent or more of diseased ani- 
mals be treated as coming under section (1). 

(b) That herds containing under 15 per cent of diseased ani- 
mals be treated as coming under section (2) . 

(c) That herds falling between these figures be graded according 
to the option of the owner. 

(d) That it shall be the prerogative of the owner to reject either 
plan and have his herd dealt with by removal and slaughter of dis- 
eased animals, with or without compensation, according to the public 
policy in operation. 

2. That when by any means the officials properly charged with 
the control of tuberculosis become aware of its existence in a herd to 
which a policy of slaughter and compensation can not reasonably be 
applied, such herd must be dealt with by the owner, under Govern- 
ment supervision, on the principle of the separation of all sound ani- 
mals from those affected. Such separation must be effected by treat- 
ing the whole herd as diseased, and rearing the calves separately, 
either on pasteurized milk or the milk of healthy cows, or, when the 
number of those affected is so small as to warrant such a course,,, Jby 
the application to the whole herd, from time to. time, under official 
supervision, of the tuberculin test, and the entire segregation of: all 
animals found to react. In the event of any owner refusing or neg- 
lecting to adopt either of the above methods, his entire herd to be 
closely quarantined and sales therefrom to be entirely prohibited. 

3. That a policy of compensation be recommended as useful and 
usually necessary as a temporary measure. 

4. That when slaughter is necessary, in order to avoid economic 
loss, every effort should be made to utilize as far as possible the meat 
of such animals as may be found fit for food on being slaughtered . 
under competent inspection. , 

5. The details of the commission plan will be found fully set 
forth in the appendix to this report. 

RESOLUTION 7.— PREVENTION. 

1. That with the object of preventing the spread of infection per- 
sons buying cattle for breeding purposes or milk production should, 

" 13 



except when such purchases are made from disease-free herds which 
have been tested by a properly qualified person, purchase only subject 
to the tuberculin test. In order to assist in the proper carrying out 
of this suggestion, the commission recommends that official authori- 
ties should adopt such regulations as will prevent the entry to their 
respective territories of cattle for breeding purposes or milk produc- 
tion unless accompanied by satisfactory tuberculin test charts. 

2. That all milk and milk by-products used as food should be 
properly pasteurized unless from cows known to be free from tubercu- 
losis. 

RESOLUTION 8.— CONTROL OF TUBERCULIN TEST. 

That this commission recommends the passage of legislation 
which will prevent the sale, distribution, or use of tuberculin by any 
person other than those acting with the full knowledge or under the 
direction of official authorities. 

RESOLUTION 9.— EDUCATION. 

As a clear knowledge of the cause and character of tuberculosis 
among animals, the modes of dissemination, and its significance as 
an economic and as a public-health problem underlie an intelligent 
adherence to the principles that must be observed in all efforts for 
eradication, as well as the establishment of proper cooperation in the 
great work between physicians, veterinarians, live-stock owners, leg- 
islators and the public generally, it is recommended that a widespread 
campaign of education be undertaken. To accomplish this end it is 
recommended that, first of all, a simple pamphlet on bovine tubercu- 
losis be written, in which the language used shall be of such charac- 
ter that every person of average intelligence shall be able to read it 
without being mystified by technical terms or phrases. This pamph- 
let should be published with the indorsement of the American Veter- 
inary Medical Association and the special indorsement and conse- 
quent authority of the International Commission on Bovine Tuber- 
culosis Control. 

RESOLUTION 10.— PUBLICITY. 

In concluding its work, the commission desires to appeal espe- 

14 



cially to the press — metropolitan, agricultural, and local — to join 
in the work of extending as much as possible among the people the 
conclusions here arrived at. The vital importance of the life of farm 
animals to the welfare of all classes of society needs no argument in 
its support. The aim and sole purpose which has actuated this com- 
mission has been to arrive at the soundest conclusions possible in the 
light of the best knowledge obtainable. 

RESOLUTION 11.— LEGISLATION. 

It is recommended that legislation regarding the control and 
eradication of tuberculosis among domestic animals be made uni- 
form ; that the laws of the United States and Canada and other Amer- 
ican countries for the admission into America of animals from with- 
out be made stringent and as much alike as possible ; and that the 
laws governing the interstate and interprovincial movement of cattle 
and that between different American countries be harmonized. 

The laws governing interstate and interprovincial movement of 
cattle should be of such character that every State and every province 
will be free in its eradication work from unnecessary difficulties due 
to the existence of the disease in other States and provinces. 

Legislation is especially required to prevent the various frauds 
which interfere with the satisfactory use of tuberculin as a diagnostic 
agent for tuberculosis, as well as for official supervision over all tuber- 
culin sold to be used by veterinarians and others. 

RESOLUTION 12.— SANITATION. 

In the eradication of tuberculosis it should be kept in mind that, 
in addition to protecting animals against exposure to tubercle bacillli, 
it is desirable to make them as resistant to infection as possible. This 
can be done by stabling them in clean, disinfected, and properly ven- 
tilated and lighted barns, giving them abundant clean water and 
nutritious food, a sufficient amount of daily exercise in the open air, 
and attending generally to those conditions which are well known to 
contribute to the health of animals. 

The daily removal of manure from stables, and water-tight 
floors and good drainage in stables are urgently recommended. 

Young stock, particularly, should be raised as hardy as possible 
and should be accustomed to liberal exercise and living in the open. 

15 



RESOLUTION 13.— IMMUNIZATION. 

That as none of the various methods for the immunization of 
animals against tuberculosis have passed sufficiently beyond the ex- 
perimental stage, the commission is unable to indorse any of these 
for practical use at the present time. 

RESOLUTION 14.— ANIMAL TUBERCULOSIS AND PUBLIC 

HEALTH. 

While the members recognize that the subject with which this 
commission is primarily intended to deal is the control and eradica- 
tion of tuberculosis among animals as an economic problem, they can 
not feel satisfied without declaring their recognition of the fact that 
tuberculosis among animals is also an important public-health prob- 
lem. Considered as such, the eradication of tuberculosis among ani- 
mals should have the approval and support of all those persons who 
are interested in curtailing human suffering and prolonging human 
life. 

RESOLUTION 15.— GENERAL STATEMENT. 

The members of this commission wish to be clearly understood 
that they recognize the limitations of a report necessarily based on 
actual and not theoretical conditions. They fully realize that in the 
event of the policy of which their recommendations form the frame- 
work being anywhere adopted even in its entirety, much greater ben- 
efit will be derived, at least for some time, from its educative than 
from its executive features. The control, to say nothing of the eradi- 
cation, of bovine tuberculosis, is impossible of achievement without 
the hearty cooperation of all the men who are actually engaged in 
the cattle industry. In order to secure this cooperation, it will doubt- 
less be necessary in most communities to carry on an active and pro- 
longed educational campaign. 

It is apparent that in the dissemination of practical and reliable 
information regarding the disease it will be possible to employ a very 
large variety of methods. Many of these methods, such as bulletins, 
lectures, and actual demonstrations of disease, having already been 
found valuable, will doubtless continue to be largely used. It must 
not be forgotten, however, that in this, as in any other educative- 

16 



process, a measure of disciplinary control is essential to success. 
Needless to say, such control can be secured only by the passage of 
legislation which, while clear and comprehensive, must at the same 
time be sufficiently conservative to avoid exciting alarm or arousing 
antagonism on the part of owners, especially of valuable herds. The 
best law ever framed can be made an utter failure by stupid or inju- 
rious administration, while, on the other hand, the most drastic leg- 
islation can be rendered acceptable if enforced with reasonable tact 
and diplomacy. Provided, therefore, that these qualities, combined 
with integrity, thoroughness, and determination, are available for 
administrative purposes, the members of the commission are con- 
vinced that the enforcement of a law based on their recommendations 
will prove to be by far the most powerful and effective educational 
agency which could possibly be employed. 

In concluding its report the commission would suggest that the 
association should make such provision as may be necessary to carry 
on the work either by continuing the commission as at present con- 
stituted or with such changes in the personnel as may be considered 
desirable. 

Wm. C. Edwards. Y. A. Moore. 

J. N. Hurty. F. Torrance. 

E. C. SCHROEDER. W. D. HOARD. 

J. J. Ferguson. Mazyck P. Ravenf.l. 

J. P. Mohler. Chas. A. Hodgetts. 

T. W. Tomlinson. J. G. Rutherford, Chairman. 

J. W. Flavelle. M. H. Reynolds, Secretary. 



It is hardly necessary to add to this brief, yet complete report 
offered by such unquestioned authorities on the subject. I shall only 
reiterate the points which to my mind are most essential, and which 
in my humble opinion ought to be enacted into law without delay. 

1st. Since bovine tuberculosis is transmissable to man: The' 
use of tuberculous cattle in dairies should be prohibited by law, and 
violations should be puDishable by fine, or imprisonment, or both. 

2nd. No cattle, with possibly the exception of steers for feed- 
ers and cattle shipped for immediate slaughter (such slaughter to be 
restricted to abbattoirs which are under proper health inspection) 
should be permitted to enter the State unless accompanied by a re- 

17 



liable tuberculin test which proves such animal or animals free of 
tuberculosis. 

3d. The distribution, sale and use of tuberculine within the 
State should be under the supervision of the State Veterinarian ; and 
it should be mandatory for every owner or Veterinarian to report 
the results of such test within the State to said State Veterinarian. 

4th. The fraudulent use of tuberculin, whether in intra-state 
or inter-state test, should be promptly and vigorously prosecuted; 
Veterinarians guilty of such fraudulent practice should have their 
license to practice revoked. 

5th. The slaughter, for food consumption, of cattle reacting to 
the tuberculin test should be restricted to slaughter houses which are 
under the supervision of Veterinary Inspectors. 

6th. All tuberculin reacters should be branded in order that 
every purchaser may know what he is buying. 

With these points covered by law the control and eradication 
of bovine tuberculosis is merely a matter of enforcing the law. 

Some States have found a system of partial reimbursement to 
the owner a great benefit to the work. No doubt, a plan could be 
evolved in which the State and the county would share in such re- 
imbursement, thus more justly placing the cost where the benefit 
is to be derived. 

HYDROPHOBIA. 

This Department has not heretofore concerned itself with the 
suppression of Hydrophobia because of the almost incomprehensible 
indifference on part of the people toward this infection. But the 
alarming spread of this horrible disease within the past few years 
demands that every Department of Health and Sanitation within the 
State should take up the work in earnest. 

It is no longer a question: Is rabies a specific infectious dis- 
ease and, if so, is it communicable to man? The large number of 
human sacrifices which have paid the penalty of our neglect answer 
those questions unequivocally. 

The production and free distribution of the Pasteur treatment 
by the State Board of Health is a move in the right direction and has 
been a great boon to the people. However, we can not afford to allow 
the dog to spread the infection without restraint, hoping to prevent 
fatal terminations of the infection by a course of anti-rabic treat- 

18 



merit. Common sense demands that we should adopt such measures 
of restriction as may be necessary for safety. 

These measures may be summed up : 

1st. An adequate dog-tax; a destruction of all homeless or va- 
grant dogs. 

2nd. The muzzling of all dogs which appear upon the street or 
in public places, not for 60 or 90 days — but for all time. 

Now, I know, this is not a popular movement and yet: I yield 
to no man in admiration of the dog, not even the silver-tongued 
statesman of Missouri — Senator Vest — who penned his classic 
"Eulogy to the Dog." But, when "Man's Friend," the dog, by rea- 
son of an incurable, yet preventable disease imposes on the confi- 
dence and privilege of companionship bestowed upon him and 
during the hallucinations, which are so prominent a symptom of 
Rabies, infects the innocent and helpless children with a most hor- 
rible disease then I believe it is high time to impose such restriction 
upon the dog as may be necessary to secure the safety of humanity. 
Friendship for the dog, when placed in the balance against the safety 
of the human family, must certainly not be permitted to overshadow 
our duty to our fellowman. 

The restrictions previously alluded to should be enacted a law 
and the various county and municipal officers should be required by 
law to see the provisions of the Act carried into effect. 

A few statistics on the subject are here introduced to impress the 
need of action in this matter. 

*"The following table, prepared by Kerr and Stimson, of the 
United States Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service, gives a 
partial list of the number of laboratory diagnoses of rabies found in 
1908 at the various institutions interested in the investigation of this 
disease. They call attention to the fact that these figures represent 
in many instances only a small proportion of the actual number of 
cases of rabies occurring in the various States. For example, while 
only 47 cases of rabies have been actually demonstrated in Wisconsin, 
the State veterinarian estimates that 584 animals died of this disease 
.during 1908. 



(*) Farmers Bulletin 449 by Dr. John R. Mahler. 



19 



Positive findings of rabies in animals, 1908. 

Diagnosis made by— Number 



Delaware State Board of Health laboratory 

Connecticut State Board of Health laboratory 

Florida State Board of Health laboratory 

Indiana Univcisity, Bloomington, Ind. 

Indiana State Board of Health laboratory 

Baltimore (Md. N > Pasteur institute 

Massachusetts cattle bureau 

University of Michigan Pasteur Institute 

New Hampshire State Board of Health 

New Jersey State Board of Health 

New York Pasteur Institute 

North Carolina State laboratory of hygiene 

Vermont State Board of Health 

Wisconsin State hygienic laboratory 

New York State Veterinary College 

Minnesota State live-stock board 

Bureau of Animal Industry, Pathological Division, Washington, D. C 

Cleveland health department, east side 

Pennsylvania State live-stock sanitary board 

Ohio State Board of Healtih laboratories 

Virginia Pasteur Institute, Richmond, Va 

Biological laboratories, Brown University, Providence, R. I 



Total. 



7 
14 
20 
12 

75 

74. 

135 

1 01 

7 
13 
60 
21 

2 

47 
188 

15 
121 

49 
103 

32 

39 

32 



1,167 



In a letter from former State Veterinarian Langley he states 
that Texas probably has more rabies than any other State in the 
Union. Several years ago President Frank Wells, of the Michigan 
State Board of Health, made rabies largely the subject of his annual 
address and declared it was epidemic in Michigan. Vaughan, who 
reported as a special committee on rabies, intimated that it had grad- 
ually spread from New York, where it had prevailed for a number of 
years previously, into Ohio and thence to Michigan, having been dif- 
fused throughout the Lower Peninsular of Michigan. In fact, the 
disease became so widespread and so many people were bitten that the 
State appropriated funds for the establishment of a Pasteur institute 
in connection with the medical department of the University of Mich-, 
igan. A Pasteur institute was likewise established in April, 1908, in 
Washington, D. C , in connection with the Hygenic Laboratory of the 
United Sta+es Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service, owing to 
the continued outbreak of rabies in that vicinity and the large num- 
ber of people bitten by rabid animals, 139 persons having been treat- 



20 



ed since its establishment. In addition, there are 18 other Pasteur 
institutes in the United States, located at Atlanta, Ga. ; Austin, Tex. ; 
Baltimore, Md. ; Chicago, 111. ; Iowa City, Iowa ; Jacksonville, Fla. ; 
Minneapolis, Minn.; Montgomery, Ala.; Newark, Del.; New Or- 
leans, La. ; Pittsburg, Pa. ; Raleigh, N. C. ; Richmond, Va. ; St. Louis, 
Mo. ; two in Indianapolis, Ind. ; and two in New York City. 

As an indication of both the distribution and the prevalence of 
rabies among animals may be considered the number of persons who 
have been treated at these institutes. The directors of these Pasteur 
institutes have been requested to furnish this information, and the 
majority have responded. From these reports it is evident that 
several thousand people have been subjected to the Pasteur treatment 
recently, and hundreds (nearly 1,500 persons in 1908) receive the 
treatment every year as a result of bites inflicted by rabid animals. 
At the Pittsburg institute 1,022 persons from Canada, Ohio, Pennsyl- 
vania, New York, West Virginia, and Colorado have received treat- 
ment, as follows: 

From December, 1900, to September, 1902, 76 caeses. 
From October, 1902, to October, 1904, 143 cases. 
From October, 1904, to October, 1906, 185 cases. 
From October, 1906, to October, 1908, 368 cases. 
From October, 1908, to June, 1909, 250 cases. 

The Texas institute, under State control, has been established 
less than 5 years, but the number of persons who have applied for 
treatment has gradually increased from 81 in 1905 to 254 in 1906, 
310 in 1907, and 353 in 1908, these patients coming from 7 South- 
western States and old Mexico. 

At the St. Louis institute 381 persons have been treated, coming 
from 11 Southern and Central Western States and from Mexico. 

Since 1890 the Chicago institute has treated 3,016 people, com^ 
ing from 30 different States of the Union. 
ST VET-^SEVEN ETAOINN SHRDLUUCMFWYP VPB KQGETAON'IA 

At the New York institute (Rambaud's) 1,367 cases were treated 
between 1890 and 1900, 237 cases in 1900 and 1901, and 486 cases 
from October, 1904, to October, 1906. 

Brawner, of the Georgia institute, has treated 670 patients since 1900, 
with only 2 deaths. During this time all the people in Georgia bitten by 
rabid animals so far as could be learned, and who did not take the treat- 
ment, were recorded, and of the 120 bitten without subsequent treatment 

21 



29 have died. Rabies is said to be very much on the increase in that sec- 
tion, and it is not uncommon for farmers to lose many horses, cows and 
hogs from the disease. 

At the Baltimore institute 1,092 cases have been treated, 334 of 
which came from Maryland, 117 from North Carolina, 102 from 
Pennsylvania, 104 from Virginia, 112 from West Virginia, 57 from 
the District of Columbia, and the remainder from 13 other States. 

Since 1901 the Richmond institute has treated 208 cases, coming 
from Virginia, North and South Carolina, and West Virginia. 

As a further indication of the number of persons bitten but who 
did not take the Pasteur treatment are the census reports showing 
the mortality statistics from rabies. In the census of 1900, when only 
about 40 per cent of the population resided in districts where regis- 
tration was observed, 123 deaths from rabies distributed in 20 States 
were reported. That this number was entirely too low was shown by 
Salmon in 1900, who corresponded with a number of health officers 
within and without the registration districts and collected 230 au- 
thentic cases of hydrophobia in man during this same interval in 73 
cities. 

That the increase of rabies in animals which has been demon- 
strated above bears a direct relation to the increase in the disease in 
man is shown by the vital statistics of the Census Bureau, as follows: 

In 1903, 43 people died of rabies; in 1904, 38; in 1905, 44; in 
19$6, 85; in 1907, 75; in 1908, 82. These deaths occurred only in 
the registered area of the United States, which now includes about 
51 per cent of the total population." 

Surely the review of such figures will not permit us to treat the 
question of control with indifference. The time has come when the 
cry of protection from the people demands quick, decisive and effec- 
tive action. 

GLANDERS. 

Glanders is the result of a specific infection of the animal body 
with a specific micro-organism — the Bacillus Mallei. Contrary to 
public opinion this disease is not a natural aftermath of such dis- 
eases as strangles, nasal gleet, decayed teeth, empyema of the sinuses 
within the head, or chronic bronchial or pulmonary lesions ; tho the 
disease may, to the laity, in some respects, simulate some of these 

22 



lesions during its progress, especially in chronic cases. With reason- 
able precaution this disease can easily be kept under control. Dur- 
ing the past five years we have succeeded in stamping out every re- 
ported outbreak except the one which engaged our attention around 
Towns in Telfair county. This failure can only be attributed to the 
fact that the public absolutely disregarded the precautions which 
they were advised to follow. The quarantine restrictions. were ruth- 
lessly violated and disregarded and the disease thus allowed to spread ; 
this, of course, could and should have been prevented. In order to 
obtain the best results the local enforcement of quarantine should 
be a stipulated duty of State, County and Municipal officers, or of the 
county Board of Roads and Revenues ; it should be their duty to re- 
port the final disposition of such animals to the State Veterinarian, 
and they should be, by law, required to prosecute all violators of the 
quarantine restriction. 

ANTHRAX. 

No authentic cases have been reported or investigated in the 
State. 

TICK-FEVER. 

This disease presents the most enormous handicap to the cattle 
industry in the State. A cattle industry cannot nourish when saddled 
with the presence of the cattle or fever-tick. The public is awaken- 
ing to this fact and demands for aid in the extermination of this par- 
asite are continually pouring into this Department. With the lim- 
ited means available we are at present working along improved lines 
in Hart, Green, Putnam, Hall, Banks and Clark counties. Prelimi- 
nary work is in progress in Murray and Fannin county and we 
maintain one State Inspector in the counties of White, Habersham, 
and Stephens to prevent the introduction from the tick-infested area 
into this free area. No doubt, for awhile, the restrictions of traffic 
incidental and absolutely essential to the extermination of the cattle 
tick (Margaropus annulatus) will, to the unitiated, appear needless 
and an encroachment upon their personal rights and privileges ; but 
the practicability of tick-eradication has long since passed the experi- 
mental stage and the enforcement of quarantine restriction is, at its 
worst, a blessing in disguise. 

23 



The work is progressing satisfactorily, the co-operation of the 
Bureau of Animal Industry has been all we could expect in view of 
our own limited appropriation. The Inspectors and Agents furnish- 
ed by the federal government have, in each instance, been capable, 
trustworthy and efficient men ; the same is true of the inspectors em- 
ployed by the State and the counties. Progress of tick-eradication 
will always depend upon the real interest manifest by the people, 
where the cattle owners take an active interest in the work entire 
counties may be cleaned, as if by magic, within the space of 12 or 15 
month ; indifference and refusal to comply with the law will materi- 
ally hinder the work and prolong the completion of the task. 

Comparative figures upon the progress of the work are not 
available this year ; but, hereafter, we shall be able to give a detailed 
statement of condition and also of cost of cleaning each county. 

An additional appropriation would enable us to group the ter- 
ritory in which we work on a more economical basis, and also con- 
form to the demand for extension of this work into the various 
counties which are now clamoring for our assistance in the eradica- 
tion of the tick. 

The feeding of cattle raised above quarantine line is but another 
extension in farm development which can only be conducted safely 
when the cattle ticks are eradicated. This industry does not only en- 
courage the consumption of home products (cotton seed meal and 
hulls and other forage) but it is the successful and most economic 
way in which to rebuild the worn-out lands and restore the farms 
to a basis of profitable cultivation. However, in the presence of the 
fever-tick good feeders can only be introduced at a great risk from 
the tick free area; and then, when they are shipped north again, 
these same northern cattle are confronted with the handicap of a re- 
stricted market — they can only be shipped for immediate slaughter 
and bring one-half cent, or more, per pound less than the same cat- 
tle would have brought had they not entered the tick-infested area. 

The tick is the greatest handicap to the agricultural develop- 
ment of the South and no money can be spent with a more certain as- 
surance of quick and profitable return than that spent in the extermi- 
nation of the cattle tick. 

Unscrupulous quacks are advertising and offering the public 
nostrums claimed to be specifics against tick-fever. Their actions 
cannot be too strongly condemned. The only specific against tick- 
fever is the extermination of the cattle-tick, and the nearest substi- 

24 



tute either acquired or artificial immunity (hand infestation with 
seed ticks or serum inocculation), these latter processes being es- 
pecially serviceable in cattle shipped in from non-infested territory. 
None of the so-called "Tick-Oils" have any virtue beyond, possibly, 
the destruction of those ticks with which it comes in direct and con- 
tinued contact, this may be as safely and quickly accomplished by 
the old familiar Kerosene, Lard and Sulphur compound. Better yet 
send for Bulletin No. 5 and carry out- the suggestions offered; we 
especially recommend the arsenical solutions. 

HOG CHOLERA. 

The swine industry received a vital blow from the extensive 
spread of cholera among hogs throughout the State. Especially the 
southern part paid an excessive tribute to this dreadful plague. The 
county of Brooks alone lost in excess of $50,000.00 during the past 
year from this disease and the neighboring counties of Lowndes, Ba- 
ker, Berrien, Colquitt, Thomas, Grady, Decatur, Early, Miller, Cal- 
houn, Dougherty, Mitchell, Worth, Crisp, and others of that section 
have all reported losses from cholera, There is hardly a doubt that 
some of these reported cases were not cholera, but at least 75 or 80 
per cent were due to this disease. On a conservative basis it is cer- 
tain that the annual (last year's) loss from hog-cholera is in excess 
of $350,000.00. 

Last year I conducted, at your request, a serie? of experiments 
with the Dorset-Niles Serum. Encouraged by the flattering results 
a bill was introduced in the Legislature asking for an appropriation 
of $5,000.00 with which to establish a laboratory for the manufac- 
ture of this serum, and with which to conduct the field work of dis- 
tribution. The General Assembly failed to pass the bill during the 
immense rush of other bills which preceeded it. 

During the past year additional experiments have fully sustain- 
ed the confidence placed in the serum as a preventative measure 
against cholera and it is to be hoped that the next Legislature will 
not overlook the need of the urgent legislative relief to an industry 
which is tottering under the onslaught of a specific infection which 
can be controlled at a very nominal cost. It is not desirable that the 
serum should be manufactured for free distribution, but it ought 
to be produced from native immunes and sold to the people at the 

25 



actual cost of production. The actual distribution and administra- 
tion should be under the supervision of the State Veterinarian. 

As in other contagious diseases, so in cholera, a strict local quar- 
antine should be observed to prevent the spread of the infection. 
Transportation of hogs within the infected area should be prohibited ; 
and in counties where no stock-law exist temporary stock law should 
be enforced until the disease is under control. 

Interstate shipment of hogs should be accompanied by affidavit 
of owner that the animals have not been exposed to hog-cholera and 
do not hail from infected territory. 

It has been a pleasure to me to publish, in the various state pa- 
pers, short talks on cholera but I believe better results can be obtain- 
ed by publishing a short and concise bulletin on this disease for free 
distribution among those who are interested. With that aim in view 
a bulletin is now in course of preparation and I hope to have it ready 
for the printer in the near future. 

HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA. 

Enzootics of this disease are observed annually tho the losses, as 
a whole, in this State, are not very great. The abdominal type, in 
common with tick-fever, is known to the farmers under the name of 
"bloody murrain." In the beginning of an outbreak a few cases 
frequently die very suddenly — in from 6 to 12 hours — due, no doubt, 
to a special susceptibility of the affected animal; subsequent cases 
invariably live 4 or 5 days in acute attacks, while milder cases, as- 
suming a more chronic character, may survive 3 or 4 weeks and then 
die. 

For the benefit of cattle owners I will describe a typical out- 
break, quoting from my report of an investigation conducted near 
Moundville in Merriwether county. 

"All appeared well until, during the first week of July, a six year old cow 
died after an illness of about eight days. The most prominent symptoms were: 
Extensive, painful swelling of throat, tongue swollen and a constant flow of 
saliva dripping from her mouth, rapid and difficult breathing, nasal discharge, 
constipation (fecal discharge blood-stained), urine normal in color, great weak- 
ness and rapid loss of flesh. A few days following the death of this cow another 
sickened and died in two days, symptoms almost identical. The next to be 
affected gradually improved after a lapse of five days but, subsequently, suf- 
fered a relapse and is now in a critical condition. A two year old steer in prime 
condition showed swelling of the throat and died in 36 hours. 

26 



Looking for the cause of this disease Mr. A — O — discovered ticks on his 
cattle and decided they were dying of tick-fever. He at once picked them 
clean and greased them with a mixture of lard and kerosene, equal parts of 
each; consequently, when I saw the cattle they were tick free. But, "tick or 
no tick," the symptoms related and the conditions found are NOT due to tick 
infestation and therefore NOT tick-fever. Of course some of the symptoms 
exhibited are found in Piroplasmosis such as: weakness, loss of appetite, con- 
stipation and cessation of rumination and lactation, but these symptoms are com- 
mon to nearly all febrile, and especially, infective conditions. 

Within the last few days Mr. A has learned that the bull now heading 

his herd was one of a carload of mixed cattle (23) shipped to Mr. R 's 

plantation last year ; nineteen of this 'bunch are said to have died of a similar 
affection. 

EXAMINATION. 

Mr. A 'has his cattle divided and keeps them in two different pastures; 

his dairy herd, which is the affected herd, runs on a creek bottom; the other 
is on upland pasture and has so far remained healthy. The dairy herd consists 
of four cows, the bull previously referred to and six calves from six weeks to 
eight months old. Two of .the calves have been sick but seem to have recovered, 
tho they are thin. The cow, above mentioned, is a six year old Jersey grade 
badly emaciated, tho the owner assures me she was in fine condition prior to her 
illness. She is very weak. Her head is extended and a hot, painful swelling 
extends from a point near the chin to the third or fourth tracheal ring, the 
swelling is firm without subcutaneous gas formation, the base of the tongue is 
badly swollen and the mouth is partly open from it exudes a constant, stringy- 
flow of saliva. The visible mucous membranes are pale wit'h a slight yellowish 
tinge (iochorremia) ; no ulcers or pustules in the buccal cavity. Respiration 
44; inspiration is especially painful and jerky. Surface temperature is irregularly 
distributed, rectal temperature (at 6:30 a. m.) F. 101.6; pulse 88; auscultation 
reveals serous infiltration in bronchi, and blowing centers in left lung. Urine — 
normal passage — is amber colored and appears normal (not chemically examin- 
ed) . Feces soft and streaked with blood." 

The preceeding is a fairly typical outbreak and I hope will serve 
to impress the cattle owners with the symptoms which are commonly 
observed in this affection. 

Treatment has been found very unsatisfactory and at present 
we can only recommend: "separation of the well and sick." The cat- 
tle ought to be changed to an entirely new pasture — upland if pos- 
sible. 

EMPHYSEMATOUS ANTHRAX. 

(Black Leg.) 

Tho not extensively distributed over the State this disease has, 
nevertheless, levied a heavy tax upon certain communities. The dis- 

27 



ease primarily affects the younger animals ranging in age from six 
months to two years; and yet, in communities where it has just been 
introduced it is by no means uncommon to see the older cattle sicken 
and die. 

Our greatest losses have been in the mountain ranges bordering 
the Carolinas. This spring we encouraged the vaccination of cattle 
in the affected districts and so far our reports indicate that losses 
have been very small. 



EPIZOOTIC CEREBRO SPINAL MENINGITIS. 

Under this heading I want to record the appearance of a specific 
disease which appears sporadically among our cattle. We have not 
had the opportunity to, or the means for, conducting a searching in- 
vestigation in this matter and, therefore, offer only a part of our re- 
port in the W. C. Sears investigation, hoping to have the opportunity 
to study the affection in greater detail in the future. 

"history of the case." 

"In September 1909, we were called to examine a bunch of cat- 
tle in Early county belonging to Messrs. Freeman and Middleton. 
These cattle exhibited symptoms strongly suggestive of Hydrophobia; 
they would live from 3 to 8 days after the preliminary symptoms 
became manifest, and each animal affected died. The disease affected 
alike the young and the old of either sex. Our diagnosis, then, was 
a compromise, our treatment a failure. We considered it a dietetic 
affection, the result of feeding on unwholesome vegetation and be- 
lieved it to be a purely local condition. No other cases were reported 
to this department at that time. 

Now, nearly a year after, Mr. Sears tells me that August and 
September of that year he and his neighbors lost many head of cat- 
tle from the disease now affecting his cattle ; he reports a few head 
recovered. The disease among his cattle is identical with our out- 
break in Early county, tho the attack is of a milder form, none of 
the symptoms showing the same degree of intensity manifest in the 
Early county outbreak. Only one has died so far, four more kept in 
the same pen and pasture are now affected. 

A yearling, apparently on the road to recovery, raises her 

28 



head upon hearing us approach and retreats to the remotest corner 
of the enclosure, her head is highly elevated, her eyes sparkle, (cere- 
bral excitement). When well the calf is extremely gentle. A week 
ago fat and slick-coated she has lost much in condition by reason 
of her illness, both flanks look hollow — she appears "pot-bellied" — 
her coat is lusterless, the discharge from her bowels appear normal, 
the urine likewise. Mr. Sears claims, and I observed the same con- 
dition in the other animals, that when they are at their worse the 
urine dripples from them very freely at irregular intervals. The 
muzzle is dry, the appetite apparently good. Visible mucous mem- 
branes are slightly injected, temperature 101.3 F. respiration 24. 
The submaxillary glands are prominent — somewhat enlarged, the 
same is true of the prepatellar glands. 

The most prominent symptoms are uneasiness and constant 
mournful bellowing, the preliminary shyness gives away to an un- 
usual aggressiveness alternated with deep stupor. 

Mr. Sears promises to let us know when one of the cattle is on 
the verge of collapse so that we may have the opportunity of hold- 
ing a post-mortem. 

This opportunity was not given us but Mr. Sears' partner told 
me that he cut one open and found it u very red around the back- 
bone and feverish looking." 

ENZOOTIC SPINAL MENINGITIS. 

An outbreak of enzootic spinal menigitis was observed near 
Metter in Bulloch county. Every animal in the barn succumbed to 
the disease. A few died quickly, in about 2 days, but most of them 
lingered for a week or more. 

Lack of laboratory equipment prevents us making a more thor- 
ough scientific investigation in these cases. But basing our opinion 
exclusively upon the clinical evidence this outbreak was the result of 
a specific infection. 

PARASITIC INFESTATIONS. 

The annual loss to the live-stock industry from parasitic infesta- 
tion is extremely difficult to determine because no statistics upon 
the subject are available. Without some systematic work along this 

29 



line we cannot hope to make any real advance in determining the 
cost of this item to the live-stock industry. 

It is an open secret that many cattle upon our ranges are im- 
poverished and die because of infestation with "Hsemorchis Con- 
totus," a small, hair like, blood sucking worm infesting the aboma- 
sum and intestines of cattle, goats and sheep. 

The symptoms observed are those of general emaciation and de- 
bility, loss of appetite, diarrhea, paleness of the mucous membranes, 
extreme roughness of the coat, and great thirst without fever. Swell- 
ings are frequently observed about the head Between the lower jaws 
and extending back as far as the throat. Other parasitic infesta- 
tions are met with but not to an extent sufficient to present a formid- 
able handicap to the live-stock interest. 

During the month of January, 1911, a' sample of meat was sent 
to the State Chemist, who requested me to make an examination. 
Examination revealed a piece of hog meat intensely infested with 
"Trichinosis." We so informed the owner and received the following 
card in reply : 



"card. ; 



Dear Sir : — 

Replying to yours of 6th inst., will say the sample of meat sent 
you was obtained from the center of a ham on the day of the killing. 
The heart was very badly affected. Any other information will be 
gladly furnished. The hog (sow) about 2 1-2 years old, began to 
eat chickens, was very hearty and looked healthy. 

J. C. POWELL. 

The consumption of tricfrinous meat is very dangerous to man 
and an effort should therefore be made to locate these affected places 
and stamp out the infestation. 

INTOXICATIONS. 

Annually the State loses an enormous amount thru the feeding 
of forage which is unfit for food consumption. This subject can not 
be profitably discussed in an annual report and we have made it a 
point to discuss the subject in detail to the farmers at farmers' meet- 
ings. In its last analysis this is a question of education and it is 
the duty of every farmer to study the class and condition of food 

30 



which he offers to his live-stock — horses and mules in particular. 
No where does the forcefulness of the old axiom "An ounce of pre- 
vention is worth a pound of cure" apply more aptly and literally 
than in feeding and watering the work -stock, either on the farm or 
in the city. Respectfully submitted, 

PETER F. BAHNSEN, 

State Veterinarian. 



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